Kaka Rejects City

'Kaka is staying at Milan,' said a club spokesman, after Berlusconi told Italian television that Kaka was staying put.

'When I heard him say that he prefers to stay, that he doesn't feel like he has lost the opportunity to earn a higher salary and that he feels privileged to wear the shirt, he values the closeness and the friendships, the heat and affection that all the fans have shown him even in these last two days, I said 'hallelujah' and we hugged,' AC Milan owner Berlusconi told Italian television.

Around one-thousand Milan fans were reported to be protesting outside of the club over the potential sale of Kaka to Manchester City in a transfer said to be worth £100m.

Fans then made their way to Kaka's compound where they stood outside singing songs. Kaka greeted the fans on his balcony, beating his hand three times on his heart while clutching an AC Milan shirt.

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Berlusconi is a little orange****, the move was never on the cards and it was all done to big him up at a clud where he was losing the fans, sad that we got suckered into it, no chance of attracting anyone decent with Hughes at the helm I'm sad to say

Agreed, bluemanc100. Could the way that this story broke be *any less* of a blatant drama cooked up by Berlusconi to win over the fans? I mean, if you had to make a film about this whole thing, wouldn't it just end with the antagonists walking out smugly, rubbing their hands with a sinister look and preparing to leave with Kaka, before the "heroine" Berlusconi has a last-minute change of heart and runs back to throw herself into Kaka's arms and tell him she always loved him? That's exactly what's happened here. The deal was declared to be wrapped up, when literally a couple of minutes later Berlusconi runs to the press declaring he can't bear to be separated from Kaka. Sheer media puppetry at it's best. Oh well, I predicted we wouldn't get Kaka from the start of his whole charade. So what now? Do the owners go for a new superstar or do we get to sit back and watch Bellamy shoot up the top scorers list as our star attraction?

True, but you can bet your boots that if we swapped places with Villa right now, Berlusconi would still have done exactly the same thing and cancelled the deal. In most cases, yes, we would and should be admonished by players for not being enough of a threat to be worth joining *at this moment in time*. But I can't believe that Kaka ever had a say in this deal. It was Berlusconi planning to create a storm that only he could defuse from the very start. City just played into his hands by being so eager to follow through.

Look guys I want tell you something, All player who joined to city from Serie A they did not succeed with us, George Weah, Bianchi DABO Garrido and Even Peter Reid when he returned, I think the best for us now is Ribery and I expect he will be better than Kaka In the style of play in the english premier .

I do actually feel sorry for Citeh fans (I'm not taking the mick either) but I am glad I'm afraid (firstly 'cos I want him at Chelsea even though it'll never happen and secondly because Kaka has restored a little bit of my faith in human nature in the face of enormous financial temptation). You are right, Berlusconi has played you brilliantly but in doing so (and much worse than missing out on Kaka), I feel he may have damaged your prospects of signing other Galacticos who may now feel under pressure to act with the same 'dignity' as Kaka. You will still get a whole lot of great players though, I don't doubt that but you have learned a tough lesson here. I don't think people will laugh at Citeh over this, I don't see why anyone would blame them for trying to sign a player like Kaka when money is no object and besides, if anyone wants a laugh you have made that very easy by signing Bellamy (on God's earth why?!)!!! Basically if you can, it is better to grow your own Kaka, even when you are loaded beyond belief. It's still early in the Middle Eastlands dawn and I feel there is plenty more excitement to come. Bet there is one p*ssed off Sheik tonight though, having just discovered probably for the 1st time in his life that there is something he can't buy at any price!

Please don't go for Ribery, I was kind of hoping we might get him in the summer! Who is your no. 1 target now (and it better not be JT either!), will you try another huge one like Messi or aim more 'modest' like Ribery?

Ribery to Man City? Absolutely ridiculous. Ribery wants out of Bayern Munich because he feels they're slightly lacking what they need to win the CL, and let me remind you that Bayern are almost a sure thing for the quarterfinals. Citeh need to participate in the tournament in order to win it. I do agree he'd be great for the EPL, though.

I'm sure up untill a couple of hours ago Robinho was excited about playing along side Kaka now he has the honour of playing with Bellamy. I'm not trying to make fun but im sure Robinho is *****ed off right now.
And 14 million for Bellamy WTF...Liverpool sold him for 7.5 a year ago.

Kaka has not rejected City. Kaka has always been happy in Milan and has decided to stay there. There was an offer which no-one knows the details of other than a very few people. The fact that Kaka does not accept that offer does not mean he has rejected City. He has in fact rejected an offer none of us here in Vital Man City know the details of. An offer nobody at the Mail, the MUEN, tribal football or Guilleme Balague know anything about. By the same token he has rebuffed Chelsea, Manure, Liverpool, Ajax, Barcelona, Aston Villa or Wycombe Wanderers. He is simply staying put. I'm going to call William Hill in the morning and ask for their best odds on Kaka NEVER joining Manure or Chelsea as a player.

Falastur - you could do worse and probably so could we! I'd rather keep him, I do rate him very highly, but if it meant that Mancienne stayed and got his chance, as I say it could work out well for all concerned. So £30m and he's yours then, yeah?

Sindbad - what on earth are you on about?! Citeh made an offer to Milan and Milan gave Kaka permisison to talk to them. Kaka has rejected that opportunity and as far as we are all aware there was only one offer he had been given permission to discuss. however you dres that up, i'm afraid that Kaka rejected Citeh! Nothing to be ashamed of, he'd probably have rejected almost every (if not every) other club in the world too, even Chelsea (nah, he'd have come to us!)!

SpanishBlue, I think Sindbad's point is "how do we know Kaka rejected it?" I mean, there are two points to this argument: 1 - his father was invited to talks between the parties, which suggests some interest (or if you are cynical like me, that Kaka/his father were told to play along) but noone from Kaka's family has released any statement on the matter. Kaka has said that his heart is with AC Milan, but crucially he hasn't actually said that he was the one who turned City down. The second point is the way things happened. The newspapers reported as the meeting between the parties ended that an agreement had been reached, and that this was the stage where Kaka himself would take part in negotiations. Then minutes later, Berlusconi comes on TV to cancel the deal. And his first words were that Kaka is "unsellable" and that he can't go through with it. It was only after he came back a few minutes later to release a statement that he said Kaka was unwilling to move. Everything here points to Berlusconi being the one who interjected. I mean, if Kaka himself had pulled out, why did his father come out of the meeting making no objection to the claims that the deal was ready to be made, and why was it Berlusconi who cancelled the deal, followed swiftly by City saying they did? It smacks of a Berlusconi mock-up, and City trying to save face.

The whole saga stinks of Berlusconi playing it so he looks like a hero- it is rediculous.
Cooks official statement says absolutely nothing about what happened.
I can't say im suprised that he didn't join but the manner in which the deal collapsed is not even clarified.

My thoughts are on where we go now. Personally, I think that ADUG played their hand too early. They're stuck now - Kaka's rejection will provide a powerful argument for other big players who aren't sure whether City are worth it, meaning we may struggle to sign anyone above the level or RSC or say, Arshavin. On the other hand, ADUG have shown that they're desperate to infuse world class into the squad, and this has already unsettled the squad. I don't see how we could get away with not making another bid for a big player this transfer window - our reputation is already shattered and without a radical overhaul in summer, that window may not bring in many players either. Unless we sign a top player in the next couple of weeks - and for a maximum of £50m and Robinho-level wages - then I'm worried we might face a big old hiccup in our plans for the future.

Just to clarify - by "big player" I ideally mean not a stellar player; not a player who would be expected to run the team themself. I would be delighted if we got Arshavin, that would fit the bill for me, I just am not sure how close to signing for Arsenal he is already...

Thank god the saga is over. We have been taken for a ride by an unpopular dodgey italian politician looking for some popularity. If Kaka was not interested he has had a week to inform City of that fact and stop Cooke and his father wasting their time and ours. It is all a bit strange. Nethertheless, we were minutes from signing ACMilans best player (who has only won 1 league and CL in 6 yrs in Italy). Hardly a Messi in terms of impact but would have been good at attracting others. We should go for a young and better version of Kaka (at the same age according to Brazilian media) and current Brazilian player of the year - Hernanes at 25M if that. Arshavin to cover injured Petrov for 18M. A world class centre back to replace Dunne. David Villa now or Eto'o/Benzema in the summer! I think that will cover all of our disappointments. As for the comments on Bellamy, I am just trying to see him as a replacement for Vassell (it is easier to cope with as I now have to cheer him on). Hopes and disappointments it is part of being a hincha of the rollercoaster that is Man City. Best headline of the morning, "City Stabbed In The Kak!"

Maradona was hinting Aguero would go to city if we put in a bit but we already have a new striker now! City Girl- I dont know anything about 'Hernanes' but we do need another world class midfield player so I hope he is of a Kaka standard.

I don't know what you all are on about. You guys have a good squad to begin with, the fact that you all are ****e should worry you. I don't know what's going on at Man Citeh and I could care less because you are so far behind us it doesn't matter. I do hate that you throw your hat in the ring for any player anyone mentions. No one like Kaka will ever join a team in the relegation battle. You won't even be able to offer European football next campaign. If Kaka went to city, HIS reputation would go down as a greedy ******** who doesn't care about the game. If your Arabs are paying 14mil for Bellamy and 11 for Bridge, both are ridiculously laughable prices, then they are really getting had.

The idea that we throw our hat into the right for any player anyone mentions is 99% the media making up stories to sell papers. It's a bit unfair to blame us for what the media claims we've done. Unless confirmed officially, anything the press says should either be ignored or treated with a pinch of salt.

"The discussions reached only a preliminary stage and the player was not involved at any time. No commercial terms were framed."
- City hadn't even tabled an official bid. Berlusconi announced that they had. The man's a spin legend!

eightsin: you are right Maradona did say that. Aguero is better than Robinho in my opinion and Argentinians are always less trouble. Maradona did stress Atletico would take a deal in the summer in the original spanish version of the interview. Atletico are desperate for cash and have spoken just last week about trying to get Arabian finance from Dubai/Abu Dhabi (missed the boat) for naming of their unbuilt stadia, commercial opportunities near the ground etc. Basically they need finance and for less than a Kaka we could get a longterm commercial partnership agreement with them and take Aguero now. Though he is quoted as being a Utd fan and wanting to stay at Atletico. Lets hope Gary Cooke sharpens his negotiating skills and knowledge of gen footballing environment. Hernanes is the best thing in Brazil and Barcelona have bid for him twice but below 25M and will prob do so again in the summer. If he's good enough to improve their midfield....

I don't think anyone's laughing at Citeh here, with the financial muscle you have you have every right to go for Kaka who wouldn't in that situation? But while it's true Berlusconi has played this nicely to his own ends, it should also be pointed out that ADUG were also looking for some publicity here, this was a statement of intent and an attempt at a marquee signing when, really, in the area of the pitch Kaka operates, you're pretty well sorted for now (though no doubt Kaka would have improved it). If ADUG were serious football men and not playboys showing the world what's between their legs, they'd have gone for a couple of world class centre halves.

City Girl sharpening negotiating skills! LOL don't blame him you have only money at this moment to lure players & those who are greedy will join you.A Super Attractive future project? What's that? No one can guarantee success & it will take almost 5-8 years to be a successful club.Only those super stars will join you who are really in need of money.

Why would Kaka play in a team near the bottom of the table? I knew that deal wasn't going through.Robinho Came because he had acted like a little girl and cried his way to Chelsea.. then Madrid said the only way out was Citeh and then he had no choice. I bet Robinho will leave you guys soon and all your avrage signings like Bellamy won't get you a CL spot. Be sure of it. I will walk on water before you guys will win the league or the CL.

Maybe we can now get on with doing things without the eyes and the ears of the world peeking through the curtains. While I am disappointed that it did not happen I would like the media to move onto other things and let us get back to building the team.

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